Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-02-17
DOT. in blaze, front of the.talking to each

dreaming. / shall wake up presently
with my toes and finger-ends frozen stiff!
But it's an uncommonly jolly dream, any
how, and pll enjoy it while can. What
is this delicious smcll7 1t can't be coffee
and toasted johnny-cake, can it2 Peo-
pie don't smell coffee and iohnny-cake
in dreams, that ever / heard Of"
Just then voice broke the thread of
his reflections.
GLOW nice the coffee wasl It was
just like yon, Rhoda, to think of bring
ing it''
''0h, well" another sweet voice re-
sponded; '1've been out here before in
snow-storm. Somebody must go, you
know, and Aleck is in Concord, and
fathers rheumatism is worse than usual
to night. And Ted. the farm-boy, is al
ways afraid of Silver Peak when it
SHOWS. Nothing would induce him to
come"
''But weren't you afraid, Rhoda2"
'Is" echoed the lark-sweet tone.
'tWasn't born here2"
"My words exactly" thought our hero.
II should like to come out upon the
scene and ask for taste of that Arabian
draught, but / might frighten these
mountain fairies away if were to be too
precipitate. | ii be patient and bide my
time"
"And," went on pretty Rhoda East
wood, 81 knew it was possible we might
be detained here all night. So brought
the matches along, and the ca1dles aud
the pail of coffee"
''IIello!" thought Mr.. Everly "Here's
a pretty kettle of fish, must come out
sooner or latter. They're going to stay
here all nightp
"Rhoda7" whispered a soft little
voice.
"Well, Nannie9" was the sweet an
swer.
"Aren't you afraid now2"
"Afraid?-you goosel What should /
be afraid Off merrily retorted the farm
er's daughter.
"I-dont-know," slowly answered
Mamie. ''Only it's so lonesome"
There are the calves, you know"
laughed Rhcda.
''Humph" said Mr.. Everly to himself
"And it's St. Valentines Eve," added
Mamie,
"Weil," said Rhoda, "what of that2'
''They're going to have dance up at
Squire f.verly's," said Mamie
"Well, and how does that concern usl'
II should like to have gone" said
Mamie, clasping her knees after a
meditative fashion. II never was at a
Valentine party. What does it mean,
Rhoda, anyways"
'Oh, | don't know" said Rhoda,
ainging fresh pine cones on the fire.
"Theres an old saying, believe, that
the first man you see on st. Valentines
morning is your true love for the rest of
the year"
"And no longerl" in accents of disap'
pointment.
elbow do l know1" laughed Rhoda.
II never was at Valentines party,
either!''
81 wonder whom we shall meet going
down the mountain tomorrow" said
Mamie, after brief silence.
''As If it wasn't all nonsense!" said
Rhoda.
How pretty she looked as she sat sSerc,
with the flashing red reflections dancing
on her raven hair aud mirrored i'll her
liquid brown eyes!
But one must talk nonsense some
times" pleaded Mamie. 1--WE have got
to pass away the time somehow. # we
go to sleep, and let the fire go down, we
shall be frozen to death. Oh, good gra-
ciousl what's that"
some slight, unconscious movement on
the part of their hidden auditor had
frightened the calves; there Was sud
den plunge and outcry in their midst.
Edgar pc ceived that his ambuscade was
no longer possible; he emerged boldly
into the light.
90 aides =" said he.
"It's mann screamed Mamie. "Oh,
oh, we shall be robbed and murdered
Oh, oh"
nd she clung desperately to Rhoda
Eastwood
II beg thousa d pardons, am sure, -
p eaded Everly. "It isn't my fault Pm
not responsible. couldn't help it. in
deed. / am Squire Everly's son-from
harvard, you k ow-and i somehow lost
my way on the mountain. And hearing
the calves, it was the most natural tn ny
in the wo Id to come here fr shelter
and dropped asleep, and when woke
"pt yOu VIC . tdlhiuI uCiC. uODC i
haven't frightened you very much; but
l'm almost frozen, and half-famished
into the bargain; and if there should
happen to be few drops of coffee left
in the bottom of that tin pail
"How stupid we are" cried Rhoda
Eastwood, blushing beautifully, as she
poured out gourd- shell of the fragrant
coffee, and presented it, together with
a yellow slice of johnny-cake, to their
guest. "You are very welcome at the
Old House, Mr.. Everly. Sit down by
the fire. Oh. there's no fear of the sup
ply of pine-cones giving outl We always
ill bin full here every fall for Just such
emergencies as this"
"This is Delightfully."-" said our hero,
thawing himself out. as it were, by the
fire. A sort of winter picture, eha But,
l can tell you, it came very near being
something serious with me. l wanted to
get away from my SISTERS merry making.
don't you seer he added, frankly; ''and
this is the sort Of doom I've brought upon
myself"
"Sc they sat and talked in the fire
light, quite losing sight OF all stiffness
and ceremony in the cordial fellowship